Adjustable table



May 21, 1935. E. F. LUNDEEN ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed June 22, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 1 \M \w. W N

L 5 E zu/vpz-zw IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY W EHL 3 sheets-sheet 2 Q F. v Q M. 5 t. r 1: M\ w Nm m M N\ wQ\ h [.llll ll llll \\lll..lsl I I l I I 1 l l l I 1 I t Illvllblwllmllllll 5. f1 LU/VOEEN INVENTOR 777. Md. ATTORNEY May 21,1935. E. F. LUNDEEN ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed June 22, 1954 May 21, 1935.E. F. LUNDEEN ADJUSTABLE TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 22, 1934Illllllllll INVENTOR ATTORNEY the table body is raised; to provideimproved brackets 16; whereby the leg cushion9- is sup- Patented May 21,1935 i p UNITED 25002349. l 1 D B TABLE 7 Edward F. Lundeenyi Rock;Island, 111.- A fication mne 22, 1934; seria No. 72,1;906.

isoiaimsf (cl; 12s. 2

The present invention relates to adjustable 2', and side rails 3. andapivoted,tilting body haytables and more particularly to that class ofing "side'rails 4 connecting elements. 5- whereby tablescommonlyreferred to as chiropractic tables. the rails 4 are connected.to the. legs-2; and a plu Among the objects of. this invention are toproralityof cushio i, 8. a ew: h p ort? Ville in a table of thecharacter indicated, imupon which thepatient'stands whenthe table isjproved means for raising the tiltingbody of the in 'ileyatecl positionis, pivotally connected to table relatively to the base; to proyidemechanism bracket arms I l extending from the connecting wherebythe bodyof the table is pushedlintoan' Incans5. A lug I2 is locatedapproximatelycen elevated position, instead of being pulled into trallyoffthesupportllland furnishes meansfor 10 such. position; toprovideimproved mechanism attachment of the links l3'connected tothepush loforlongitudinally adjusting one or more of the r d Q1 4 e e 13118 ablebody isr' ise cushions with relation to the frame bywhich A bolt [5passes transversely of the frame through they are carried; to provideimproved meansfor the upper) portion of the connectors 5 andhas varyingthe spring tension by means of. which mounted thereon; adjacentthe-connectors' fithe means for adjusting the inclination of one or poted; at n m e b y frcmr Sn cmoreofthe cushions of the table: to provideiming. the brackets l6 from the pushrod I l-are proved meanstforsupporting one or more of the sleeves. ll, one upon each sideof the l4.It table cushions; and such further objects, adwillthu be seen that s 'ialw ysh' l in 2o vantagesand capabilities as will hereafter. appearproper 9 M9 1 with e t qnt h 0011118011913 5 and as are: inherent in theconstruction disclosed and'brackets l6. p i i herein; My inventionfurther'residesinthe com- A up-po n ol or r d l8 connects thetwobina'tion, construction and arrangement of parts br ckets l6 and'sery sas c n o s pp in illustrated'in the accompanying drawings and; thccndsof the bail shap d a i E Q B SE while I have shown therein what'is'nowregarded The. 'htral; part; of this bail-shaped latching 25 asthepreferred embodimentof thisinvention l means serves asahan'dle foroperating said-means desire the same to be understood as illustrativewhich is provided with notches 29 for engageonlyfand not to beinterpreted in'a limiting sense. inent with a rodor bolt 2-] whichconnects-simi Inj'thej drawings annexed hereto'and forming la'rsupporting means 22' upon opposite sides of 3 0 a part hereof, thetable. Each supportingm'eansn comprises Fig.1 isaside elevation of atable embodying a pair. offlinlrs pivotally connected by the ro'd mypresent invention; 2| and having their free-ends connected-at 23 andFig, 2 is a longitudinal section of the structure 2 with framemembers landan'gle irolns 25'; re; shown in Fig. L'taken approximately centrallyof spectivelyQ At oneend; the'cushi on {has guides the table; 26] whichslidealong the angle irons 25; thus 35 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectionalelevation holding thecushion' 9 positioned laterally with takenapproximately along the broken line 3-3 relation. to th' frarne of thetablebody. 'Atit's Fig 4;; t v iniddl-eportionythe cushionfl has othe'rguiding Fig. 4 is a sectional, plan taken approximately members 21provided-with thumb-screws for en- 49 alongthe plane indicated by theline 4-4;Fig. 3; gagenient" with theang le irons 25*to' guide the i0Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan section at one end pus n and secureitina'dj usted position. By of thetable body, I taken just. above theframe ldoeenmgfthsevthumb screws,jthe cushion S oan thereof beinovedjlon'gitudinallyof the angle 'ii'ons and; Fig. 6 "is a fragmentarysectional elevation when aproperadjustment is secured,'the thumb showinga cushion adjustment latching means, screws willfbe tightened up to'hfold the cushion 45 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan View of a cushion inadjusted position. In order toiadjustthe'in adjustment latching means,on a somewhat larger clination of this cushion, thelatch 19* is raisedscale than shown in Fig. 5; until the rod 2! is released from a'notch 20and Fig. 8-=isa fragmentary longitudinal horizontal then the cushion israised or lowered untilthe 5,0. sectionlthrough an end portion ofthetable body I' roper inclination issecured whenthe latchwill do,

fr l I be lowereduntil -theappropriate notch- 20 engages Reference willnow bemadein greater detail to red ZIL "Ifhis will insure thatthecushion'il will the annexed drawingsfor a complete description beheldin' adjustedposition. 1

of the structure embodying" my present invention. .The side rnernbers 3of the base have inwardly 5 This structure comprises a base having legs11 and projecting flanges 30forengageinent by h 1 3| which hasdownwardly and outwardly projecting lugs 32 engaging under the flanges30. Thus the slide 3| is held to the side members 3 and is capable ofsliding along the same as the table body is raised or lowered. Betweenthe lugs 33 on the edge of the plate 3| is the free end of the push rodM, the lugs 33 and rod l4 being pivotally secured together by means ofthe bolt 34. The main table operating springs 35 are secured at one endto the cross piece 36 at one end of the base and at their other endsthey are secured to lugs 32a. projecting downwardly from the plate 3|.It will thus be seen that one end of each of these springs is rigidlyconnected to the base of the machine and the other end to the slide 3|which is connectedthrough the link or push rod M to the tilting body ofthe table. Therefore, when the table body is released from its positionshown in Figs. 1 and 2 and permitted to rise toward the position shownin Fig. 3, the springs 35 contract, pulling the slide 3| and pushing thepush rod |4 so as to push the table toward upright position, theconnectors 5 turning on their pivots 31. When the table body is pulleddownward toward the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the springs areexpanded and put under tension. Attention is called to the fact thatthere is no adjustment of the tension of these springs other than thatcaused by the raising and lowering of the table body.

- In the side rails 4 of the table body are longitudinal slots 46 inwhich are slidable certain brackets4| which support a frame 42 carryingthe cushion 8. This cushion is connected to the frame by means of thecross levers 43 and 44, pivotally connected by the rod 45. This cushionis pivotally connected directly to the levers 44, as shownin Fig. 2, andindirectly connected, by

- means of the links 46, to the free ends of the levers 43. The lowerends of the levers 44 are connected to a cross bar 41 which rests andslides on the sides of the frame 42. Brackets are secured to the ends,of the cross bar 41 and extend under the side members of the frame 42 toinsure that thecross bar 41 will be held in slidable relation to theframe. Connected to this cross bar 41 are springs 48 which are connectedat their opposite' ends to a cross bar 49 secured to the frame 42. Itwill thus be seen that the cross bar 41'may move toward and away fromthe nearer end 50- of the frame 42, being actuated away therefrom by thesprings 48. This tends to raise the cushion B to the upper limit of itsmotion.

- A notched latch lever 5| is pivotally mounted upon the end member 50of the frame 42 and may be turnedinto position so that one of thenotches thereof will engage the pin 52 on the cross bar 41. In this waydepression of the cushion 8 maybe prevented, when desired. Since thepivot at thelower end of levers 43 is fixed with relation to the frame42, it is necessary for cross member 41 to move toward pend member 50 inorder that the cushion may be depressed. The pivot 45 therefore moves inan arc of a circle about the fixed pivot at the lower end of levers 43.Likewise, cushion 8 moves slightly toward cushion 9 during its, motionof depression.

It is customary and practically necessary to justable with relation toeach other and the body frame and provision is made, therefore, foradjusting the cushions 6,1 and 8, as well as the cushion 9. As indicatedabove, there are brackets 4| secured to theframe 42 which extend intothe slots 40 in members'4 to support the frame 42 and permit the same toslide longitudinally of the body frame members 4. The means foradjusting the frame 42 and the supported cushion 8 will next bedescribed. A rack bar 55 is secured to the end member 56 of the bodyframe and extends longitudinally thereof, substantially centrally, withrelation to the side bars. This rack bar has teeth in its upper surfaceand these are engaged by a gear 51 carried by a shaft 58 mounted in thesupport 59. The shaft 58 has handles 60 at its opposite ends whereby itmay be rotated to cause rotation of the gear 51 and movement thereofalong the rack 55. An angular frame 6| has openings therein throughwhich the shaft 58 passes, as indicated at 62 and 63. The frame 6| istherefore slidable longitudinally of the shaft 58 but is normally heldin the position shown in Figs. 5 and '1 by means of the spring 64. Aprojection extends inwardly toward the gear 51, as indicated in Figs. 6and '7, and engages between the teeth of the gear 51 when member 6| isleft free to move under the influence of the spring 64. In this way, thegear 51 is latched against rotation and the frame 42 is held in adjustedposition until the spring 64 is compressed sufficiently to release thegear 51 from the projection 65.

An identical construction, except that the latching means 65 is on theopposite edge of the frame 6|, is made use of to hold the slide 66 inplace. This slide carries the cushions 6 and 1 upon the uprights 61. Theshaft 58 for this slidepasses through openings in the uprights 61 and itwill therefore be seen that rotation of the shaft 58 and rack gear 51will cause movement of the uprights 61 and slide 66 longitudinally ofthe side bars 4. As indicated in Fig. 8, the uprights .61 have feet 68which extend out almost into contact with the bars 4, thereby preventingany substantial sideway movement of the slide 66. This slide extends tothe inner surfaces of the walls of bars 4 and the slide is thereforeheld in the slots 69 which are comparable to the slots 46, describedabove. The slide 66 moves freely under the influence of the springs 1|and the rack and pinion mechanism described above. A cross bar 12extends through the slots 69 and nearly across the tubular members 4, asshown in Fig. 8. This cross bar 12 is notched in its opposite ends forengagement by the ends of the springs 1| which thereby put tension uponthe slide 66 to pull it toward the end of the body frame. To move thisslide in the opposite direction, the latch 65 is released from the gear51 and a handle 60 is turned to cause the gear to travel along the rack,thus moving the slide and extending the springs 1|.

As is usual, the head cushion 6 is divided into two parts which arelaterally movable relatively to'each other by means of the lever 12.This being usual construction, no further attention need be paidthereto. A bail-shaped frame 13 has pivotal connection with the upperportion of the uprights 61 and supports the cushion 6 for pivotalmovement about its pivots 14. The angle of inclination of this cushionmay be adjusted in the same manner as that of cushion 9 or in any otherof several other ways but I prefer to use the same adjustment for thisas is usedin adjusting the cushions 6, 1 and 8 longitudinally of theframe. In view of the detailed description of this in connection withthe longitudinal adjustment of these cushions,'it does not appear to benecessary to describe this structure specifically.

ill

; Approximatelycentrally of one edge of the of this inventionas setforth. in the foregoing plate; 3 I r and: projecting downwardly.therefrom a. pair of. lugs". whichrserve" as lateral guides for theb'ar16: which has notches- 1.1 in the". upper. edge thereof, as showniILLFiQ; 2:. These lugs 15 have a short cross bar 1t connectingthemhands uponwhichrthe bar 16 slides.

15 and "hold the bar 16- in proper position and: guide the: sameduringuoperation ofthe' table. At its other'endgfthe bar 16 has acrossbar: 19: whichis notchedat itstwo ends to embrace the flange of thesiderail 3. This therefore serves as a guide for the free: end of thisbar. A pawl 80 is pivoted at 8|, where it is connected to theplate 3|.This pawl has a 110861.1 which engages with the notches I 1 when notrestrained from doing so. Upon one: side of thepawl 80 is a curvedbracket 83 which extends: laterally, as shown. in Fig. 4', to ride on arod M which is slidably mounted in downwardly extending flanges of theplate 3|, The end of this red is turned laterally; as shown in Fig. 4,and may rest in any one of several notches 86 formed in the upper edgeof a depending bracket 81. A weight 88 serves also as a handle by meansor which the end of the rod may be manipulated t lvary the position ofthe angle 89 which. is engaged by the bracket 83 as the latter isreciprocated by reciprocation of the plate 3 I}. I

When the table body. is lowered from the elevated position indicated in.Fig. .3, the link' M; as indicated above, moves longitudinally of thebase, pushing the plate 31 ahead of .it. To the forward edge of thisplate is connected the pawl It and this, thereforaalsomoveslongitudinally of the base. In Fig. 4, the angle 89 of therod 84 isshown inits middle position of adjustment. Therefore; when the bracket83; passes the angle Mythere is' nothing to prevent the nose,82 of thepawl 80 from dropping into a notch H of member 16. From this point on,in the travel of the plate 31, member 16 is caused to travel with, plate3i. A cross plate 91:, at the rearward end? of bar 16', furnishes meansfor the. attachment of the auxiliary springszsz which have theiropposite ends connected to the cross member, forming a part of thebase,as indicated above. Therefore, when the nose 82 drops into thenotches 11, all four springs and Marc active in pushing the'wtable bodytoward raised position. A pair of plates 93, upon opposite sides of pawl80, serve to keep this pawl substantially in perfect alignment abovemember 16. The farther to the right the handle 88 is moved, the soonerthe'pawl 80 engages the rack 15 and the sooner will the auxiliarysprings come into operation to assist in raising the weight of the tableand patient. On the contrary, the farther the handle 88 is moved to theleft, as seen in Fig. 3, the longer will it be before the pawl 80becomes effective to bring the auxiliary springs 92 into operation.

When the table body is brought down into the position shown in Figs. 1and 2, a plate 95, carried by the side rails 4, is engaged by the dogs96, pivoted at 91. Springs 98 normally hold these dogs in latchingposition, from which they are moved by a shaft 99 carrying projectionsin position to engage the dogs so as to disengage them from the plate55. Pedals I00, when pushed downwardly, cause rotation of the shaft 99and I disconnection of the dogs 96 from the plate 95.

It will of course be understood that the specific description ofstructure set forth herein may be departed from without departing fromthe spirit specification. and in the: appended claims;

I claima. u

I. Ina table of the character described, a frame comprising longitudinalframe members and. a transverse" member connecting them at one end,rigidly,..ai rack connected to'said: transverse member and extendinglongitudinally. of the frame substantially parallel with. saidlongitudinal frame-members, a pair of cushionshaving supporting meanscarried by said: longitudinal frame members, pinions carried by saidcushion supporting means and cooperating with said rack in ad iustingthe cushion supporting means and the cushions longitudinally of theframe.

" 2. A table of the character described having a body frame comprising apair of longitudinally extending side rails slotted on their sidesfacing each other, cushion supports extending into said slots to supportthe cushions relativelyto the frame, a rack connected to the frame andextending longitudinally thereof and in proximity to said cushionsupports, shafts carried by said cushion supportsrand extendingtransversely of said frame and the rack, pinions carried by said shaftsin cooperative relation with said rack and serving, when the shafts arerotated, to adjust the cushion supports longitudinally of'the frame.

3. A table having a cushion supporting frame comprising a pair ofsubstantially parallel longitudinally extending side members having.slots in the portions facing each other and extending longitudinally ofthe side members, and a cushion support having a part extending. intosaid slots which serve as guiding means to assure a definite directionof movement of thecushion with re lation to the frame.

4'. A structureas defined by claim-3 having spring means for biasing thecushion in one direction. and operating means for moving-it in theopposite direction.

5. A structure as'defined by claim" 3 having spring. means within theside members tending normally to cause movement of the cushion in onedirection and rack. and pinion-.means for causing movement of thecushion in the opposite direction. T l i i 6. A tablefor the purposeindicated comprising. a cushion supporting. frame having :a. pair. oftubular substantially parallellongitudinally extending side membersprovided in their sides facing each other with longitudinally extendingslots for the reception'of cushion supporting means, means forsupporting cushions upon said frame extending into and slidable in saidslots,

and means for actuating the cushion supports in opposite directions.

7. A structure as defined by claim 6 in which the cushion actuatingmeans comprises rack and pinion mechanism for causing relative movementbetween the cushion supporting frame and the cushion supporting means incombination with latching means supported for movement transversely ofthe pinion to engage or disengage the same for the purpose of holdingthe cushion in adjusted position or permitting adjustment thereof.

8. A table comprising a base and a body, said base having legs, saidbody having connectors at one end whereby the body may be connected tothe base, pivotal connecting means pivotally connecting said connectorsto said legs near their lower ends, a push rod connected to saidconnectors remote from said pivotal connection,

springmeans normally pulling-on'said" push rod to push the bodytowardelevated position when released for upward swinging motion, and bodysupporting. cushions supported on the said table body..

.9. A structure as defined by claim 8 having a slide connected to thebase and slidable there- 'along, said push rod and said springs beingconnected to said slide.

10. A structure as defined by claim 8 having a slide connected to andsliding along said base, the push vrod beingpivotally connected to theslide and the slide also having the spring means connected thereto, apawl connected to the slide and extending forwardly therefrom, auxiliaryspring means connected to the base and to a ratchet, said pawl andratchet being adapted to cooperate to causethe auxiliary spring means tobecome, operative to furnish additional pushing means to raise the tablebody.

11. In a table of the character indicated, a base, a cushion supportingtop pivotally connectedto said base, a slide operatively connected tothe top and slidable on the base, a pawl pivotally connected to theslide and adapted to engage a notched bar, a notched bar slidablyconnected to the base and the slide, said bar being connected by meansof springs to the base, said springs being put under tension bylongitudinal motion of the bar away from the point of pivotal connectionof the base and top, said pawl being adapted to engage the notches ofsaid bar to cause movement thereof longitudinally of the frame, andmeans for varying the point at which the pawl will engage a notch of thenotched bar so asto vary the amount of tension which will be exerted bythe springs to cause lifting of the table.

,12. A structure as defined by claim 11 in which the last named means isa bar slidable longitudinally. of the base and has an angle to beengaged by the pawl, and said pawl has a projection engageable with saidbar so that the pawl may be lifted out of engagement with the notchedbar.

13. In a table of the character indicated, a cushion supporting frame, acushion support rising therefrom and having a cushion pivotallyconnected thereto, a rack and pinion mechanism connecting said cushionand said support for adjusting the angular relation of the cushion withrespect to the frame.

MFA structure as defined by claim 13 having latching means engaging thepinion toprevent relative movement of the rack and pinion, saidlatching-means-being slidable transversely of the rack into or out ofengagement with the teeth of the pinion. 1 v

15. A structure asdefined by claim 1 having latching means movabletransversely to the rack and axially of the pinions to engage ordisengage the teeth of said pinions to secure said pinions againstrotation or .release them for' rotation, whereby to hold the cushions inadjusted positions with relation to the frame;

16. In a table for the purpose indicated, a base, a superstructurepivotally supported thereby, a cushion pivotally supported on thesuperstructure, pairs of pivotally connected links connecting oppositesides of the superstructure with the cushion to support the same inadjusted position, the pivotal connecting means for the links extendingacross the table and connecting the links upon opposite sides thereof, aU-shaped latch having notches in its arms to engage the said pivotalconnecting means, the ends of the arms being pivotally connected withthe cushion. 17. A table having a cushion supporting frame comprising apair of substantially parallel longitudinally extending side membershaving slots in the portions facing each other and extendinglongitudinally of the side members, a cushion support having a partextending into said slots which serve as guiding means to assure adefinite direction of movement of the cushion with relation to theframe, a longitudinally extending rack, a pinion associated therewithwhereby to cause movement of the cushion longitudinally of the frame,and latching means movable axially of the pinion to engage or disengagethe teeth of the pinion to hold the cushion in adjusted position.

18. A table of the character indicated comprising a rigid frame, amovable cushion carried thereby, rack and pinion connecting meansconnecting the frame and cushion, the rack being rigidly connected tothe frame and extending longitudinally thereof so that the cushion maybe adjusted longitudinally of the frame, and latching means to hold therack and pinion in relatively adjusted positions whereby to hold thecushion in adjusted positions.

- EDW. F. LUNDEEN.

